Teaching young children in multicultural classrooms: issues, concepts, and strategies

Preface

Part I. Foundations for Multicultural Education in Today's Early Childhood Classrooms

Chapter 1. Facing the Reality of Diversity: The Intricate Nature of Our Society

The United States-A Nation of Contrasts

School-The Place of Diversity and Action

How Did We Become a Culturally Diverse Society?

The United States: A Kaleidoscope of People

Pondering What We Have Examined

A Call for Action

Creating Your Standards Portfolio

What We Have Learned-Chapter Summary

Things to Do ...

Recommended Internet Resources

Your Standards Portfolio

References

Chapter 2. The Nature of Culture, the Nature of People

Culture, the Magic Web of Life

Discovering the Cultures of Children

A Myriad of Cultural Identities: The Essence of Cultural Diversity

Talking About Race and Ethnicity

What We Have Learned-Chapter Summary

Things to Do ...

Recommended Internet Resources

Your Standards Portfolio

References

Chapter 3. Families in Our Classrooms: Many Ways, Many Voices

Families-A Constant in Our Changing Society

What Is a Family?

Culture and the Family

Diversity in Child-Rearing Practices

The Family Structure

Working with Diverse Families: Challenges and Opportunities

Family Diversity: Implications for Teachers

Successful Families

The Family-The Most Important Element in Our Lives

Our Classrooms, the Mirror of the Children's Families

Families-The Essence of Social and Cultural Life

What We Have Learned-Chapter Summary

Things to Do ...

Recommended Internet Resources

Your Standards Portfolio

References

Chapter 4. Who Is the Child? Developmental Characteristics of Young Children in a Diverse Society

Looking at Children: So Alike and Yet So Different

Development: The Process of Becoming

Socialization: Learning to Be with Others, Learning to Be Ourselves

Discovering That You Are Not Like Me

Knowing the Child

What We Have Learned-Chapter Summary

Things to Do ...

Recommended Internet Resources

Your Standards Portfolio

References

Part II. Exploring the Roots of Multicultural Education: Issues and Directions

Chapter 5. Everything Started When ... Tracing the Beginnings of Multicultural Education

Setting the Stage: We Believe in Children

In Search of Educational Equality

Looking Back Through Time

A Time Line for Multicultural Education

The Road to Multicultural Education

The Birth of Multicultural Education

The Road Is Finally Laid

Moving Ahead

What We Have Learned-Chapter Summary

Things to Do ...

Recommended Internet Resources

Your Standards Portfolio

References

Chapter 6. Approaches to Multicultural Education: Ways and Designs for Classroom Implementation

Time for Decisions

Why Engage in Educational Reform?

Getting to Work

Exploring Approaches and Models

Models of Multicultural Education

Early Childhood Multicultural Approaches

Reflecting on the Approaches for Multicultural Education

What We Have Learned-Chapter Summary

Things to Do ...

Recommended Internet Resources

Your Standards Portfolio

References

Part III. Into Action: Implementing a Culturally Appropriate Program for All Children

Chapter 7. The Classroom, Where Words Become Action

Reaffirming the Decision to Teach Multiculturally

Teachers Are the Key to Successful Multicultural Education

Why Planning Is So Important

Knowing Your Program

What Is Curriculum Content in Early Childhood Education?

Standards for Teaching in Diverse Classrooms

Making Decisions: What Is Best for Multicultural Teaching?

Putting Things Together

Setting Directions

What We Have Learned-Chapter Summary

Things to Do ...

Recommended Internet Resources

Your Standards Portfolio

References

Chapter 8. Preparing to Bring Ideas into Action

A Time for Ideas: Planning for Multicultural Teaching

Designing a Child-Centered Curriculum

Focus on the Environment

Establishing the Content

Assessment in Multicultural Classrooms

Putting Everything Together

What We Have Learned-Chapter Summary

Things to Do ...

Recommended Internet Resources

Your Standards Portfolio

References

Chapter 9. Activities and Resources for Multicultural Teaching: A World of Possibilities!

Building a Classroom for Our Multicultural Society

Making the Best Use of Teaching Environments

A Classroom for Teaching and Learning About Diversity

What We Find in the Classroom

Guidelines for a Multicultural Classroom Environment

Preparing to Design Activities for the Classroom-Ideas in Action

The Stage Is Set!

What We Have Learned-Chapter Summary

Things to Do ...

Recommended Internet Resources

Your Standards Portfolio

References

Chapter 10. A World of Resources: Engaging Families, Friends, and the Community

Working Together: The Essence of a Child's Success

Changing Communities, Changing Realities

Defining Family Involvement

At Home: Where the Self Begins, Where We Become

The School Neighborhood and the Community

Communication: The Road to Positive Relationships

Ideas for Planning Activities with Families

What Lies Ahead?

Before We End, a Word to the Reader

What We Have Learned-Chapter Summary

Things to Do ...

Recommended Internet Resources

Your Standards Portfolio

Organizations and Advocates for Parents and Families

References

Appendices

A. Recommended List of Selected Multicultural Children's Books

B. Organizations That Support Multiculturalism and Diversity

C. Developing Multicultural Awareness: Sample Activities

D. Island Stick Puppets

E. Planning for Cultural Diversity: Developing a Class Profile

Glossary

Index